Wednesday, August 30, 2000 SPORTS _ PENINSULA NEWS REVIEW 22 Got a team or an individual that the world DENINSULA Sports scores to pass along? should know about? The Review special- Contact The Review | izes in sports features, highlighting those phone: 656-1151 fax: 656-5526 remarkable people. Call Phil, Laura or Judy and let us know: 656-1151. Thomas Wiiterhoff The heyday for polo in News Review Contributor Greater Victoria was during the 1920s and 1930s when hundreds _ of. spectators would cheer on_ their favourite horses and riders in matches played in the in- After all, it's avery popu- fields of now-demolished bd aout ee peel ers’ racetracks in. Beacon. Hill angers t yi Oy: ole: Park and Oak Bay’s Lans- of Windsor, for example. — gowne Slopes area. But polo is actually a game Dan Pedrick, secretary of with very ancient roots and the Victoria Polo Club and a is more inclusive than one - well-known local polo in- might initially think. _ structor, acknowledged that The sport originated in yi - his sport has a bit of an elit- Central Asia before the time ist image, but says that ~ of Alexander the Great, with -- many players do not have a the earliest written records ‘moneyed. backgroun d. ; ofits existence appearing in “We Jet’s put it this way,” Arabic and Parsi. poetry he explained. “If you are re- “thousands of years old. As. ally attracted to.a (sport), - one tnies othe world and you will find a way to incor. 1 ti f porate it into your life, one a close sporting cousin o way or the other.” field hockey, it became well © ‘While it's true sna ne .- established in India and Per-. some elite polo players who. ; email: penreview@vinewsgroup.com cal. club membership physical, developmental or shows. “In Canada, espe- — learning challenges. cially — Canada being one Participants of all ages of the polo-playing nations _ are given the opportunity to. — you'll find people out in ride horses under the su- the countryside (who are) _ pervision of trained volun- in the horse culture and — teers and staff, often for the who play polo, and who are __ very first time in their lives. not necessarily made of It’s: an activity that goes money.” back to the First and Sec- ‘With a relatively small ond World Wars, when dis- membership currently, the: abled veterans would return club is actively seeking out . home and use similar -pro-* new members and Pedrick - grams to. help them in their said he is eager to pass on therapy. ° his love of the game tonew .. The program offers three . players. Last Sunday the *~'10-week sessions from Sep- club hosted a very-unique. _ tember.to June, and VDRA. benefit exhibition match at program director Christine one of its practice fields be-. » Leach says that 50 to 60 rid- — “hind © Stelly’s secondary. ers participate in each ses- school. It’s hoped the event’ sion. She said the benefits will not only elevate the pro- — for the participants are very ace file of the game in Saanich, clear, and it’s a rewarding but will-also help out. an-. activity for both rider. and ea other very. special group volunteers. — There that works: with: ‘horses ine ae : “The. riders benefit by i im- wt ie * ost people think of polo as a pas- time of the well- to-do or well-connected. po Sia chen sore ae ree spend a ‘considerable the community. : S proving ...their muscle whe der Mae e British, - amount of money on their. . = i _ Strength, balance and coor who‘developed the game in ” chosen sport, that’s not the... : “LAURA A LAVIN PHOTO. Be ‘dination, so mentally it gives its present form and formal... during: their “pe. me Jutiuss. Hoffman, ‘first-year poto play er, ‘took part in se polo demonstration before. Su Thursday, August Bist ‘Time: 6-8p.m oe ee ‘Location: 2403 Beacon Ave. Sidney, B.C. eee It’s a fact in today’s 8 world - more and more women are Quality Marine Accessories : i 1) This seminar will provide you with the fundamental informati m you need mi to take charge of your own financial future. | . l The workshop Is free, but seating is limited. eg ee ON So please cal} today to reserve your seat. . wee Kelly A. Ogiow || 2403 Beacon Ave., Sidney : ia, : 656-8797 a I batt “Marine Sales &Service | uN - 10199 McDonald Pk. Rd., Sidney | 7 “(McDonald Industrial Park). 655-9265 | E ‘dwar Jones | is . Serving Individual Investors | Wet ae : Member IPF, Bip r ty 1 Aa lh i: nbs ! iy! I aN, We Levis Hesia th ii wil v i hi ? uu ay : oy] ooh Ae ile : i aera eee e ee Sees goo . “Kelly A. Oglow nd ata www eclwird jonen.com ae . Ae os / : : | SS